Tarpaulin for recreation fields



March 16 1926.

J. H. WOODWARD TARPAULIN FOR RECREATION FIELDS Filed Nov. 25,

l. R f.

Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. WOODWARD, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE `J'. H. AND F. A.SELLS COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TARPAULIN FOR RECREATION FIELDS.

Application 'filed November 25, 1925.

To all whom z' 'may concern.' v

Be it known that I, JOHN H. VVOODWARD, a citizen of the United Sta-tes,residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tarpaulins forRecreation Fields, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved tarpaulin or water proof coveringfor recreation fields, and has for its primary object the provision ofan improved readily laid and easily removed structure for protecting anathletic or playing iield from rain, snow and moisture to the end ofmaintaining said field in a dry and serviceable condition suitable forthe activities taking place thereon.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a covering of awater proof material especially designed for the covering of a foot balland base ball field which is capable of covering such a field when thelatter is not in use so as to provide protection from the elements. Inthe past it has been the simple custom to protect such a field by alarge area of a water proof material. Considerable difficulty has beenencountered in placing such large one-piece structures in an operativeposition upon the field and in controlling their removal. The presentinvention aims `to overcome these disadvantages by the employment of atarpaulin consisting of a plurality of complemental relatively smallsections, which are secured together along their meeting edges by meansof a frame, the said frame serving to maintain the meeting edges in anelevated condition preventing' the seepage of rain and moisture betweenthe joints 0f the said edges, and allowing the water to readily run offthe covering without seeping lthrough and moistening the protectedground beneath the tarpaulin. t

Another object of the invention resides 1n marking the various sectionsof the tarpaulin so that a system is supplied permitting oftheconvenient laying and positioning of the tarpaulin sections in theirproper interrelated order upon the frame of the device and in a mannerdevoid of confusion or mistake.A

With these and other objects in view, as.

invention consists in the novel features of serial No. 71,344.

construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of partshereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of the improved tarpaulin comprising the presentinvention,

.Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale,Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 8-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Inaccordance with the present invention my improved tarpaulin isdesignated in its entirety by the numeral l. In order to render the samepractical and capable of being easily handled, particularly when thetarpaulin is used in connection with the covermg of large areas such asfoot ball fields, the said tarpaulin is formed to comprise a pluralityof individual and separable sections which are designated by the numeral2. Each of these sections is formed from a water proof material such forexample as canvas or a rubberized fabric. Canvas, however, is preferredin that it possesses the capability of being rolled and stored withoutcracking or breaking and with ordinary care is capable of impartingsatisfactory service for a number of years. These sec` tions are laidtransversely across the playing field and each section is of a lengthequal to substantially o-ne-half the width of the field, and in widththe sections are substantially lifteen feet. These proportions have beenfound to be desirable in that they permit of the convenient manualhandling of the tarpaulin, in that one or two men may place the sectionsin proper order upon or remove the same from the ground surface to beprotected. As shown in Figure l the sections are placed in successiveorder over the entire playing field, alternate sections being arrangedso that their bounding edges are in superposed or overlapping relationwith respect to the meeting edges of the intervening sections.

To facilitate the laying and positioning of said sections the playingfield has arranged thereon a frame 3, which in this instance consists ofa plurality of frame units t laid end to end and extendinglongitudinally along the center of the field. From these longitudinalunits the frame is formed to comprise a plurality of transverselycxtending units 5, which also comprise sections, formed from any desiredmaterial, and adapted to be placed end to end in aligned orderpreferably upon the yfive yard lino` indications, provided upon theaverage foot ball field. It will be understood that the units comprisingthe frame may loe of Wood, metal or any other desired material, the sameresting flatly upon the ground sur- `face and may or may not have theiradjoining ends interlocked.

'The frameunits have their upper surface provided at regularly spacedintervals with a plurality of upstanding pins or posts 6, which areadapted to be recelved Within eyelets 7 provided in the marginal edgesof the sections 2. By this construction it will be seen that thesections are capable of being readily applied and held in place upon`the playing field and the frame by first placing the frame in theproper manner described upon the playing field, andasecond, insertingthe eyelet 7 over the pins or posts 6, provided rigidly on the frame, soas tohold the sections against displacement and in se-y cured andproperly distributed order. The eyelets litloosely upon the pins orposts of the frame so that no dii'hculty is encountered in registeringthe pins with the eyelets and in quickly laying or removing thetarpaulin sections. -It Will be observed that the marginal edgesof thetarpanlin sections are arranged in overlapping order, and that by theprovision of the frame units these overlapping edges areelevated abovethe ground surface, so that the same ivillpresent a conveXed formationto provide for the natural shedding of Water or moisture to the end ofpreventing the seepage of moisture through the overlapping edges aswould be the case were the sections arranged flatly on the ground.`Also, most playing fields of this kind are provided ivith a naturalcrown, a condition which enables rain or moisture to readily flow fromthe tarpaulin toward the unprotected edges of the playing field.

To facilitate 'the positioning of the frame and tarpaulin sections inproper order, each of the frame units e and 5 bears distinguishing` andguiding indicia. For example, the units 5 may be marked R 1, R 1, R 1b,etc., indicating that these units are placed end to end on the rightside of the playing field on, for example, the first five yard line ofthe field. The units to the left are marked L 1, L l, L 1b, etc.,indicating that these units are placed on the five yard line to the leftof the longitudinal frame units 4. The oenter units may be marked C l, C2, C3, and so on, indicating their proper order, throughout the lengthof the field. It Will be understood that for convenience in handlingthese units may be each substantially y the left side of the field tocover the area betiveen, the center of the field and the zero and liveyard to the left of the field and, similarly, the section at the rightof the field is marked R 1, to denote the corresponding position of thetarpaulin on the' right of the field. These sections may then beprovided with numbers ranging from 1 to 2,0 so that the entire fieldwill be covered. It Will-be understood that by this system inimperfections which may exist inthe difierent units and sections aretaken care of, so that the proper fitting between the frame andtarpaulin sections for each localized area of the field is assured. Ofcourse, if it were possible to secure prices, gauges and standards inmanufacturing the different sections would then be rendered independentof position and capable of being interchanged at Will. Such a highstandard of ccuracy is, however, diilicult to attain in practice andtherefore the units have been marked as designated.

In view of the foregoing it Will be seen that the present inventionprovides a practical and complete Water proof covering for athleticfields, enabling such fields to be maintained, when not in use, freefrom the effects of the elements, and to overcome the natural handicapsimposed thereby when the field is unprotected. Ordinarily, followingeach game on the field the frame 3 is laid in its proper position andthe tarpaulin sections may be arranged in rolled order on the sides ofthe field or other positions of storage. In the event ofthreateningWeather theA tarpaulin sections are applied to the field as indicatedand serve thereby to provide for the eflicient protection of the field.

What is claimed is:

1. A tarpaulin covering for athletic elds, comprising a frame consistingof central units extending longitudinally through approximately thecenter of the field, and a plurality of spaced transversely extendingunits arranged on said field and disposed at right angles substantiallyto the center units, and a plurality of tarpaulin sections having themeeting edges thereof disposed on said frame sections, said edges beingarranged in overlapping relationship.

2. A tarpaulin covering for athletic fields, comprising a frame arrangedon the playing surface of said field and consisting of a central unit,extending longitudinally of said field and a plurality of spacedtransversely extending units arranged to extend substantially at rightangles to the center units, a plurality of individual and separabletarpaulin sections having the meeting edges thereof overlapped andarranged in registration with 'said frame units, and attaching devicescarried by said frame units and arranged to be received Within openingsprovided in the marginal port-ions of said tarpaulin sections.

3. A tarpaulin covering for athletic fields, comprising a frameincluding a pluralityof central units arranged on said field andarranged end to end longitudinally of the length of lsaid field, aplurality of transversely extending units, arranged end to end, spacedlongitudinally and extending substantially at right angles to saidcenter units, and a plurality of tarpaulin sections having the marginaledges thereof arranged in overlapped relation and resting on said frameunits so that the overlapped meeting edges of said tarpaulin sectionsare disposed in planes higher than the portions of said sections lyingbetween said frame units.

4. A tarpaulin covering for athletic fields comprising a frameconsisting of a plurality of separable units, said units being adaptedto be arranged on said field to extend end for end down the length ofsaid field in approximately the center thereof and to provide aplurality of longitudinally spaced, parallel transversely extendingunits arranged in end to end order and extending at right angles to saidcenter units, a plurality of rigid upstanding attaching devices carriedby said units, and a plurality of in- Y.

dividual and separable tarpaulin sections having the meeting edgesthereof arranged in overlapping order and provided With eyelets adaptedfor the reception of said attaching devices.

5. A tarpaulin covering for athletic fields comprising a frame adaptedto be arranged on a playing field and formed to embody a central unitarranged to extend longitudinally of the field in approximately thecenter thereof and a plurality of spaced transversely extending unitsarranged in parallel order and adapted to occupy positions on theplaying field substantially at right angles to said centrally placedunits, anda plurality of tarpaulin sections having the' adjoining edgesthereof detachably connected with said frame units,'said frame units andtarpaulin sections bearing position disclosing indicia.-

In testimony .whereof I aflix my signai l i 1 i ture. i

JOHN HQWooDWARD.

